Unlike some fans, I won't just pop the chads of my favorite players or those on the hometown team - as a fan of Major League Baseball in general, I feel like it's my duty to vote responsibly in hopes that the most deserving players nab starting gigs in the Midsummer Classic. Published May 30 2008

The Baltimore Orioles made arguably the biggest splash in last year's amateur draft when they selected Georgia Tech catcher Matt Wieters with the fifth overall pick. The 6' 5", 230 pound switch-hitter was considered by many in baseball to be the best positional player available, but the fact that the Scott Boras client was reportedly seeking a signing bonus of $11 million - and had the option of returning to school for his final season of eligibility if his demands were not met - had some teams scared off. Baltimore, unwilling to pass up a chance at a potential franchise player, rolled the dice and then stuck to their guns from a financial standpoint, signing Wieters to a minor league deal that included a $6 million signing bonus just minutes before the Aug. 16 deadline. Published May 27 2008